Michael Bzdel

Michael Bzdel, C.Ss.R. (July 21, 1930 – April 3, 2012) was a Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop, serving as the Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, Canada.

Bzdel was born to Ukrainian immigrants in Wishart, Saskatchewan, Canada, on July 21, 1930, the 11th of 14 children in his family. He studied at the Redemptorist-run Saint Vladimir's College in Roblin, Manitoba, Canada, and decided to become a priest. Following his presbyteral ordination in 1954, he was assigned to ministry in various parishes across Western Canada.

In 1984 Bzdel was elected Provincial Superior of the Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada Province of the Redemptorist Order, a position he held until his elevation to the episcopate in 1992.

In 1992 he was named Archbishop-elect and head of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg. With the appointment, he became the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada. He received archiepiscopal Ordination and consecration as Archbishop of the Winnipeg Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy on March 9, 1993, having received the appointment in 1992.

As Metropolitan, Archbishop Bzdel was one of the four ex-officio members of the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. He also served on several CCCB commissions and committees, including the former Ad Hoc Committee for Aid to the Church in Eastern and Central Europe and the Balkans.

In 1997, Pope John Paul II named him a Delegate to the Synod of Bishops for America.

He retired in January 2006, after nearly 13 years as Metropolitan.